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Historic Winchester Model 1866 lever action rifle, .44 cal., 24” octagon barrel, re-blued finish to

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,500.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 7,000.00 USD
Historic Winchester Model 1866 lever action rifle,  .44 cal., 24” octagon barrel, re-blued finish to
All items are as is, no warranty or claims and All SALES ARE FINAL. Please examine prior to bidding as it is the bidder's responsibilty to establish condition, age, genuineness, value or any other determinative factors.
Historic Winchester Model 1866 lever action rifle, .44 cal., 24” octagon barrel, re-blued finish to barrel and lever, brass frame, butt plate and forend cap, wood stocks, #131220 in overall very good condition as re-finished showing a beautifuldark patina to the brass frame, professional re-blue to barrel and loading lever, good bore, crisp action and good markings; wood is overall good showing weathering and scattered old mars and wear with some age cracking to butt stock. Thisgun descended in the family of Joseph Henry Taylor, a Civil War soldier, pioneer, trader with the Northwest Indians and hunter who after the war moved to McLain County, North Dakota and started the first newspaper there, The McLain County Mail, and subsequently wrote 4 books including Frontier & Indian Life. In 1873, he was reportedly approached to scout for Custer and the 7th Cavalry out of Fort Lincoln for the Black Hills Expedition but turned the offer down as he knewmany of the soldiers in the 7th but “never cared for Custer”. By family tradition, Taylor acquired the ’66 from a Minneconjous Indian in trade for pelts, coffee & a gold plated pocket watch. The rifle passed to Joseph’s younger brother, Job and